Leandro Tojong Explained

Leandro Tojong
Honorific Prefix:The Honorable
Birth Date:March 13, 1905
Birth Place:Ginatilan, Cebu, Philippine Islands
Death Date:December 20, 1980 (aged 75)[1]
Death Place:Cebu City, Philippines
Profession:Medical Doctor, Soldier, Politician
Nationality:Filipino
Office:Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Cebu's 2nd district
Term Start:December 30, 1949
Term End:December 6, 1952
Predecessor:Miguel Cuenco
Successor:Miguel Cuenco
Office1:Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for Cebu's 5th district
Term Start1:May 25, 1946
Term End1:December 30, 1949
Predecessor1:Vicente Logarta
Successor1:Vicente Logarta
Office2:Mayor of Cebu City
Term Start2:1945
Term End2:1946
Predecessor2:Juan Zamora
Successor2:Nicolas Escario
Party:Liberal

Leandro Aballe Tojong (March 13, 1905 – December 20, 1980) was Filipino Visayan physician, patriot, and politician from Cebu, Philippines. He held the rank of Captain in the resistance movement against the Japanese, and later became Mayor of Cebu City (1945–1946), and a member of the House of Representatives (1946–1953).

Early life

Leandro Aballe Tojong was born in Ginatilan, Cebu on March 13, 1905.[2]

Career

A medical doctor by profession, Leandro Tojong established a hospital that was named after him.

City Council

Tojong was one of the members of the council who were sworn into office by then Secretary of Interior, Elpidio Quirino, upon the inauguration of the new Cebu City Charter on February 24, 1937.[3]

On December 14, 1937, he was a member of the first elected Cebu City Council. He was again elected to the Council for another term on December 10, 1940.[4]

World War II

During World War II, he was part of the resistance movement and given the rank of captain. His designation was at the 87th Regiment, 3rd Battalion's base hospital in Barili and Dumanjug. Later, he was commissioned as the unit's Assistant Civil Affairs Officer.

Post-war

After the war, Leandro Tojong was the first Mayor of Cebu City appointed after the war by Sergio Osmeña in 1945, succeeding Juan Zamora.[5] He was replaced later by Nicolas Escario a year after.

In 1946, he was voted as member of the 1st Congress of the Republic in 1946 for old 5th legislative district of Cebu,[6] which was composed of the towns of Alegria, Badian, Boljoon, Ginatilan, Malabuyoc, Moalboal, Oslob, Samboan, Alcantara, and Santander. On January 13, 1947, President Manuel Roxas appointed him as Member of the National Defense Committee of the House of Representatives when the Council of National Defense was created.[7]

As a candidate for the Liberal Party,[8] he was elected Congressman of the 2nd Congress of the Republic for the old 2nd district that comprised the municipalities of Cebu, Liloan, Mandaue, Opon (now Lapu-lapu City), Cordova, Compostela and Consolacion in 1949. He served until 1953. However, he was unseated by the Vicente Logarta of the Nacionalista Party by virtue of the ruling by the House Electoral Tribunal on December 6, 1952.

Tojong later constructed and managed the famous "Tojong Hospital" along Governor Dionisio Jakosalem Street. He died on December 20, 1980, at the age of 75.[9]

Historical commemoration

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Official Gazette. Philippines. 1992.
  2. Book: Tinga, Pablo S.. CEBU: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Saint Jude Book Publisher. 2009. Cebu City Public Library. 173.
  3. Web site: Cebu City Officials. Roadrunner. www.cebucity.gov.ph. en-gb. 2019-05-21.
  4. Web site: Today in the History of Cebu. Mojares. Dr. Resil B.. www.library.usc.edu.ph. University of San Carlos. May 21, 2019.
  5. Web site: The first election for Cebu City mayor The Freeman. Oaminal. Clarence Paul. February 22, 2019. philstar.com. 2019-05-21.
  6. Web site: ROSTER OF PHILIPPINE LEGISLATORS. www.congress.gov.ph. Congressional Library Bureau; House of Representatives. May 21, 2019. October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021224322/http://www.congress.gov.ph/legislators/?v=members. dead.
  7. Web site: Executive Order No. 40, s. 1947 GOVPH. Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. en-US. 2019-05-21.
  8. Book: Mojares, Resil B.. The Man who Would be President: Serging Osmena and Philippine Politics. 1986. M. Cacao. en.
  9. Web site: Official Gazette. Philippines. 1992.
  10. Web site: Dr. Leandro Tojong Street, Cebu City. Clarence Paul. Oaminal. November 22, 2013. May 21, 2019.